Founded 1914 - Incorporated 1933
Colors - Green & White
Flower - Carnation
Meetings - First Monday of Month, February through December
Mackinaw Womans Club, Inc.
310 E. Jamet
PO Box 356
Mackinaw City, MI 49701
The Mackinaw Woman's Club is a 501 (c) (3) non-profit,
tax exempt charitable organization registered with the State of Michigan.
We donate to local organizations which promote education, literary, music, art, cultural, and similar endeavors as part of our philanthropic program.
Mission Statement
The purpose of this club shall be "to create an organized center of action among women for cooperation in literary, educational and philanthropic work;
for the study thereof, and for general culture,
for the promotion of practical interest in science, art,
literature, and music for the betterment of Mackinaw"
We provide the means to send K - 5 elementary grades to the beautiful Cheboygan Opera House in March to attend a professional stage production attuned to children, some of whom may never have had the opportunity to see one before. The Youth Theatre stories portrayed teach a valuable lesson to youngsters.
We have also contributed to "Closeup," the program which enables
a high school class to travel to Washington, D. C.,
to see our government in action,
including our state representatives and senators.
These students overwhelmingly name this project
as their most important and interesting
in their final comments as graduating seniors.
The club awards a scholarship annually to a graduating senior,
whom we consider has participated in community events,
has been involved in community service,
displays a record of balanced overall activity in academics
and athletics, and a high GPA, as well as a goal of realistic values
for his or her future. This scholarship is the result of
our investment in the Mackinaw Woman's Club Fund
in the Straits Area Community Foundation,
which supports grants for Cheboygan County and Mackinaw City.
This award is the "Lucy Gridley Award," (a true Mackinaw Woman!)
who was the daughter of an early past president, Luella Jackson.
Annually we have two major fund-raisers - a 4th of July outdoor
Strawberry Social on the Marina Lawn, and the Antique Show
on the first Tuesday in August - from which the proceeds
allow us to contribute to several worthy
causes and organizations.
At times we have our "soap" sales of "Lily of the Valley,"
and our one of a kind hand-created jewelry of
earrings, ID and Medic Alert Bracelets, and necklaces,
including vintage pieces. The sales from these allow us
to donate at various times to:
Mackinaw Chamber of Commerce's "Music in Mackinaw" Program
Mackinaw City Area Arts Council
Mackinaw Area Public Library
Mackinaw Area Public Schools (Special Needs and School Supplies)
Mackinaw Area Public Schools Close Up Trip (every other year)
Mackinaw Band Boosters
Mackinaw Area Historical Society
Mackinaw Straits Raptor Watch
Diane Peppler Women's Resource Center, Sault Ste. Marie
Straits Area Food Pantry
We have a long list of requests for other donations,
which is rotated on an annual basis, as we are able.
We also hold smaller fund-raisers such as bake sales,
plant sales, occasional rummage sales, craft items, etc.
to supplement our income as needed to provide
maintenance and upkeep of our clubhouse.
We publish a quarterly newsletter, the "Tattler,"
to keep members informed of what we, as a club,
have accomplished and what plans are ahead
for the future of the club.
We established this web site to dispense information.
The address is www.MackinawWomansClub.org.
Every May we hold a Past Presidents Dinner to honor our past presidents
and review our long-established history from 1914 to the present.
We also participate in the annual "Grand Parade"
just before the "Fort Michilimackinac Pageant Re-enactment"
over Memorial weekend.
In the 6 months of February, March, April, June,
October, and November, we try to present programs
of various interests with speakers whose expertise helps
to educate and inform the members on timely subjects.
Some of these are presented in local restaurants,
or in our own clubhouse. Occasionally, the club as a whole
may take a field trip to a particular destination.
January is a vacation month. In September
we will have a soup, salad,or sandwich luncheon
at the clubhouse and enjoy either a program,
or play games, or just socialize.
In December, we celebrate with a Christmas party
for the members before we close our club year.
This has been either a potluck at the clubhouse,
or dinner in a local or area restaurant.
While we are serious about what we accomplish,
we are a fun-loving group, but we do not sit around
constantly with our "pinkie" fingers in the air
as we occasionally have a cup of tea.
We enjoy the company of our sister members
as we chat over refreshments provided by our hostesses
following programs, and we laugh with great gusto.